Hospital Negligence and When to Claim Compensation
If you or a loved one are struggling with the consequences of negligent care whilst in hospital, it may be possible to make a claim for compensation.
Medical negligence in a hospital setting
If we attend hospital with concerns about our health or knowing that we are to undergo a medical procedure, we naturally hope that all will go well. For the vast majority of people, medical care is a successful and positive experience but occasionally something goes wrong and the patient is left with debilitating symptoms which may adversely affect their quality of life into the long-term.
Such is the breadth of NHS care that an act of negligence or incompetent care can occur is a wide variety of ways including the following:
- A failure of examination or a misdiagnosis of symptoms in Accident and Emergency, allowing the patient's condition to worsen prior to an accurate diagnosis and treatment
- A failure of risk assessment or failure to implement necessary procedures to protect the patient
- A failure of consent
- A delay in carrying out an emergency procedure, causing the patient to suffer the long-term consequences
- A failure to monitor a patient who is at risk of infection
- A misadministration or incorrect prescription of medication, causing the patient to suffer long-term consequences
- A failure in surgery such as accidental damage or a retained object
When to claim compensation
Firstly, it is important to bear in mind that claims for compensation need to be initiated within three years of the date of the alleged negligence. This is not, however, the start of the process. A specialist solicitor will need plenty of time prior to this deadline during which they will investigate the quality of your medical care.
The purpose of this investigation is, in the first place, to confirm both that you have experienced an act of negligence during the course of your care and that the negligence did, in fact, cause you to suffer a worse outcome than would have been the case had you received competent care.
Where this is found to be the case, you may be able to make a claim which would incorporate your financial losses such as a loss of income if you are unable to work, or the costs of care if you are now reliant on help to achieve personal or household tasks.
Speak to a specialist lawyer
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with a team of experienced lawyers and a history of successful high value claims.
Contact us today to speak with a solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim, if you are struggling with the consequences of negligent hospital care.
Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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